19 Feb Common football injuries during pre-season training
Pre-season training is an exciting time for football players, but it also comes with injury risks especially to the hands and wrists.
As a hand therapist, I often see injuries arising from intense practice and contact, and in this post, I’ll highlight the most common injuries and ways to prevent and recover from them.
1. Fractures
Hand, wrist, and finger fractures are common in football, often caused by falls, tackles, or blows to the hand.
Prevention Tip: Wear padded gloves and focus on proper tackling techniques to reduce impact.
2. Sprains and Strains
Sprains (ligament injuries) and strains (muscle injuries) are common, particularly in the thumb, wrist, and fingers due to gripping and blocking.
Prevention Tip: Strengthen the hands, wrists, and fingers with resistance exercises and improve flexibility to reduce strain.
3. Dislocations
Finger and wrist dislocations occur when bones are forced out of their normal position during tackles or rolls.
Prevention Tip: Tape fingers for extra support and stretch regularly to improve joint resilience.
4. Tendon Injuries
Overuse or sudden force can cause tendon injuries like tendonitis or tears, especially in the fingers and wrists.
Prevention Tip: Gradually increase training intensity and stretch and strengthen tendons to prevent injury.
5. Overuse Injuries
Intense training can lead to chronic injuries like tendinitis from repetitive stress on the hands and wrists.
Prevention Tip: Balance intense training with rest and recovery to avoid overloading muscles and tendons.
Treatment and recovery
If injured, prompt treatment from a trusted hand therapist is key. Hand therapists focus on restoring strength, mobility, and function through:
- Immobilisation (splints or braces)
- Manual therapy to promote healing
- Strengthening exercises and functional exercises
Pre-season training is demanding but understanding injury risks and taking preventive measures can keep you in the game. If you suffer a hand or wrist injury, timely treatment can ensure a full recovery and a successful season ahead and you will benefit from a visit to your friendly hand therapy at!
If you are experiencing finger, hand, wrist or shoulder pain, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to help you.
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For more information, call us directly on 03 9458 5166
You might also be interested in:
- Sports taping
- I hurt my finger playing sport – when should I see a hand therapist?
- Football Fingers / Joint Dislocations
- Volar plate injuries
First aid for finger injuries
To make it easy for you to remember how to care for your fingers and wrist whilst on the field or court, here is a First Aid for Finger Injuries card that you can download for easy reference.
